The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB SEA89LA102 · Final report

Beech 19A accident near Cashmere, Washington, June 3, 1989

On June 3, 1989 at about 10:55 pm local time, a Beech 19A, registered N6061N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cashmere, Washington (Cashmere airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

THE PILOT USED POOR STARTING PROCEDURES. THE AIRPLANE WAS INADEQUATELY SECURED RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH AN OBJECT WHEN THE AIRPLANE BROKE FREE OF THE TIEDOWN ROPES.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
June 3, 1989 · about 10:55 pm local time
Place
Cashmere, Washington · Cashmere · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Beech 19A · all 19As on the register
Registration
N6061N · no longer on the register · serial MB 385
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

AT THE BEGINNING OF A FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE BATTERY WAS DEAD SO THE PILOT DECIDED TO HAND PROP THE ENGINE. THE PILOT POSITIONED THE THROTTLE TO WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS IDLE AND THOUGHT HE APPLIED THE HAND BRAKE. DURING THE HAND PROPPING, THE ENGINE STARTED. THE AIRPLANE TRAVELLED FORWARD, BREAKING THE LEFT TIEDOWN ROPE. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO BOARD THE AIRPLANE AS IT WAS PIVOTING TO THE RIGHT. THE RIGHT TIEDOWN ROPE BROKE AND THE AIRPLANE TRAVELLED APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A POLE AND AN UNOCCUPIED MOBILE HOME.

The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.

The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

Pilot

  • Certificate: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 228 hours in all; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 228 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: unk

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 20 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.

Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.